Jumping the Gun? How early is too early?

I have started my job search trying to find work in the UK.  I have no idea how long it is going to take to find something (if I ever found anything).  I have a cat that I would bring with me if I found a job and moved.  He is 17 lbs! 

What should I do now (if anything) to get a head start on the PETS scheme?  Is it too early to go through the process if I don't have a job yet.  The reason why I ask is what if I get a job and have to move within a month or two and he wouldn't even be done with his 6 months here.  Could I go through the whole process (including the blood test) even if I don't have a certain moving date?  Does the second blood test (6 month one) expire after a certain amount of time?

Even if you have no idea when you're going to be making the move, you can certainly go ahead and complete the first step - the microchipping.  Once you've done that, you'll need to schedule a rabies vaccination (even if your cat has already had one and the vaccination is still valid; DEFRA requires that these two steps are carried out in this order - no exceptions!), and 21 days after the vaccination is given, you can go ahead and have your vet draw a blood sample to send off to Kansas to be tested. 

Most of us who've been through the procedure have run out of time before moving or have moved right at the end of the 6-month waiting period, rather than having extra time to spare.  However, as far as I can tell if you go ahead and take care of the chipping, vaccination and blood test, then make sure not to let the rabies vaccination lapse, then even if you're not ready to move at the end of the six-month waiting period, your kitty will still be ready to go whenever you are.  (At least I think that's what this page is saying!)

If I'm wrong about this, I'm sure someone will come along and correct me soon enough.   Good luck!

Even if you have no idea when you're going to be making the move, you can certainly go ahead and complete the first step - the microchipping.  Once you've done that, you'll need to schedule a rabies vaccination ... and 21 days after the vaccination is given, you can go ahead and have your vet draw a blood sample to send off to Kansas to be tested. 

Most of us who've been through the procedure have run out of time before moving or have moved right at the end of the 6-month waiting period, rather than having extra time to spare.

Ok, I think Meg is on the right track... Do go ahead and microchip your pet.  Do give a rabies vaccine after microchipping (can be the same appt, so long as they're in that order).  You have to wait a minimum of 6 months after the blood is drawn for the blood test before moving your pet. 

If you download the Fact sheet (#4) off of this page, you'll see under "the 6 month rule" that "Your pet requires only one blood test and 6 calender month wait provided all subsequent rabies booster vaccinations are given by the required date".

So, I would go ahead and chip your pet, vaccinate your pet, get the blood draw done and sent off.  As long as you keep giving your pet rabies vaccinations before the current one expires, you can take as long as you need to find a job.  As long as you document it well, there's no such thing as too early.

Do note, however, that you will want to have your vet note the microchip number on EVERY rabies certificate if she needs another shot before going. 

Also note that the 3rd country vet form you'll eventually have to fill out is only valid for 4 months once signed, so don't start preemptively filling it out, because you'll just have to start all over again.

Best wishes.

Everyone is right.  Get your cat microchipped THEN vaccinated (even if he/she has recently been vaccinated - the microchip number has to be on the vaccination record.  It can even be done the same day, as long as the cat is vaccinated AFTER its microchipped).  Then, (if your cat has been vaccinated before) you can get the blood test a couple of days after that.  As long as you keep up with vaccinations (my dog got the three year, but I don't know if a cat can get that) the blood test results are valid.

Good luck!

The more you can get done the better before you're stressing about everything else.  Definitely get the microchipping and the rabbies vaccine.  And the blood work takes a while to get back and your pet is not valid for travel until 6 months after the blood draw.  I'd go ahead and get it done and then you'll only need to do the certificate and tick/tapework treatment before travel.  And if you don't go, you've not spent that much money yet.  The airlines and the Animal Reception Center is where you get bombarded with fees.

The more you can get done the better before you're stressing about everything else.  Definitely get the microchipping and the rabbies vaccine.  And the blood work takes a while to get back and your pet is not valid for travel until 6 months after the blood draw.  I'd go ahead and get it done and then you'll only need to do the certificate and tick/tapework treatment before travel.  And if you don't go, you've not spent that much money yet.  The airlines and the Animal Reception Center is where you get bombarded with fees.

Exactly.  Every animal should be microchipped anyway (IMO).

So do I have to wait 21 days after the vaccination to do the blood test?  Or can I do it after the vaccination?  He actually just had his rabies vaccination shot in August (doh!).  Or could I do all 3 in the same appointment?  I have to give him a pill to sedate him before I even take him to the vet because he's such a nutcase.  That's why I ask, the more things I can do in one appointment, the better.

He's an indoor only cat. 

So do I have to wait 21 days after the vaccination to do the blood test?  Or can I do it after the vaccination?  He actually just had his rabies vaccination shot in August (doh!).  Or could I do all 3 in the same appointment?  I have to give him a pill to sedate him before I even take him to the vet because he's such a nutcase.  That's why I ask, the more things I can do in one appointment, the better.

He's an indoor only cat. 

You can have him microchipped and vaccinated during the same appointment.
Unfortunately the vaccination HAS to be administered AFTER the pet is microchipped, so the one from August is no good. They are very strict about the order, so unfortunately you're screwed on that one.
You should wait the 21 days for the blood test to be safe--although I'm not a 100% sure of that.

21 days for the blood test to be safe?  But if he was vaccinated in August and then I would do the microchip and vaccination again, couldn't I do the blood test all in the same appointment?  (I have to sedate him so the more things I can do in one appointment, the better)

I'm really unsure of how long you need to wait after he's vaccinated again.  Your cat MUST be vaccinated AFTER he is microchipped (no matter what).  The blood test also has to be done after he's microchipped, because the microchip number, is in fact the only proof you have that the animal is the one getting all the tests, etc.. done.

What you could do is either contact your state's USDA vet, or the DEFRA programme and ask them. 

21 days for the blood test to be safe?  But if he was vaccinated in August and then I would do the microchip and vaccination again, couldn't I do the blood test all in the same appointment?  (I have to sedate him so the more things I can do in one appointment, the better)

They advise you to wait 21 days, but it's not a hard and fast rule.  I had my cat microchipped one day, blood tested and blood drawn a few days later (on the same day).  Her results were fine.  You assume the risk that the titers might come back incorrect.

Your pet definitely has to be re-vaccinated even if he was just vaccinated say 1 days before microchipping.  The UK is VERY strict about that.  I saw one person with a dog get told their pup was going to have to get quarantined because they just assumed his titers would be fine since he was regularly vaccinated and they didn't have him re-vaccinated after microchipping.  It was very sad.

That is really sad, especially because the process is fairly easy.  Yes, there is a lot of information and you have to search for it, but in the end its fairly simple.